Dr. Chessare Inducted Into the M & T Bank and Baltimore Sun’s Business and Civic Hall of Fame

John B. Chessare, MD, MPH, President and CEO of GBMC HealthCare, was recently inducted into the 2024 M&T Bank and Baltimore Sun’s Business and Civic Hall of Fame. This Hall of Fame recognition honors the achievements of 11 outstanding business and civic leaders who have spent their careers investing in the transformation and growth of Maryland. He received the award during a special event at The Center Club on June 6, 2024.

Dr. Chessare is passionate about healthcare transformation. Since beginning his tenure at GBMC in 2010, he has focused on advanced primary care, emphasizing preventive medicine and chronic disease management. This approach has earned him national recognition for improving patient care quality and efficiency. He advocates for a healthcare system that prioritizes long-term health outcomes over episodic treatments, aiming to keep patients out of hospitals through early detection and management of chronic conditions.

His educational background includes a medical degree from the University of Rome, a pediatric residency at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, fellowship training at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, and a Master of Public Health in medical care organization from the University of Michigan School of Public Health. His career highlights include executive roles at Caritas Christi Health Care System, Boston Medical Center, Albany Medical Center, and the Medical College of Ohio.

In response to Dr. Chessare receiving the 2024 Hall of Fame honor, Baltimore Sun columnist Angela Roberts published a piece celebrating his impactful career and visionary leadership. The piece included reflections—summarized below—from several influential healthcare leaders who have worked with Dr. Chessare.

Donald Berwick, MD, President Emeritus for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement and former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, praised Dr. Chessare as an extraordinary healthcare executive. Dr. Berwick, who mentored Dr. Chessare at Boston Children’s Hospital, noted his unique drive and compassion for patients. Dr. Berwick’s mentorship was pivotal in sparking Dr. Chessare’s passion for leadership and management in healthcare.

Joshua Sharfstein, MD, Chair of the Health Services Cost Review Commission (HSCRC) and former Maryland Health Secretary, also commended Dr. Chessare’s dedication to patient care. Reflecting on their time together in Boston, Dr. Sharfstein highlighted Dr. Chessare’s fundamental concern for patients and his insistence on asking, “Is it right for the patient?” This patient-centric approach has been a cornerstone of Dr. Chessare’s leadership philosophy.

According to Roberts' article, one of Dr. Chessare’s proudest achievements at GBMC is his advocacy for Gilchrist, Maryland's largest elder care network. His leadership has also reformed the hospital’s primary care practices, focusing on early detection and chronic disease management. These efforts culminated in GBMC receiving the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award in 2020, the highest presidential honor for quality management. Anthony Fauci, MD, former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, recognized this accomplishment as a bright spot in a challenging year, commending GBMC’s sustained commitment to excellence in patient care.